The Brazilian took a privately owned F2007 Ferrari's 2007 F1 model for a spin around the constructor's test track at Fiorano and he said he felt as if he had never been away.

''When I was in the car it felt as if nothing had happened. I'm the same bastard as before,'' he joked.

''Everything went well, I'm in good shape physically, it felt as if the incident on July25 had never happened. I had no problems with my sight and I'm ready to do not one but two races in a row. Obviously I'll take my time as a precaution, you have to respect that, but having got in the car I can tell you that I'm just as I was before the accident.''

Massa crashed badly during the Hungarian Grand Prix in July and spent several days in hospital with a large gash just above his eye.

He has been replaced by Italian Giancarlo Fisichella for the final races of this season while Spanish former world champion Fernando Alonso has been announced as his teammate for next season.

And Ferrari insists next season is when Massa will make his return.

''This is in no way a proper test session and looking at the stopwatch will not be on the agenda there will be plenty of time for that in 2010, when, alongside Fernando Alonso, he will begin development work of the new single-seater,'' the team said in a statement. AFP